Dispenser for finely-divided and semiliquid materials such as paste, creams, jelly, etc.



Aprll 4, 1961 5, PACKWQQD, JR 2,978,146

I DISPENSER FOR FINELY-DIVIDED AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS SUCH AS PASTE, CREAMS, JELLY, ETC.

Filed June 11. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE PACKWOOQJEY April 4, 1961 H. PACKWOOD, JR 2,978,146

DISPENSER FOR FINELY-DIVIDED AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS SUCH AS PASTE, CREAMS, JELLY, ETC. Filed June 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 By I Z QTTRZIE/Z United States Patent DISPENSER FOR FINELY-DIVIDED AND SEMI- LIQUID MATERIALS SUCH As PASTE, CREAMS, JELLY, ETC.

George H. Packwood, Jr., 1545 TowerGrove Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

Filed June 11, 1956 sr. No. 590,685

24 Claims. or. 222-165) The present invention relates to a dispenser for p'ow dered materials such as powdered soap, and for other materials such as creamy or jellied products, of which creamy cleansers may be mentioned as examples.

An object of the invention is to provide a single dispenser with a metering discharge, which is capable of dispensing both finely divided or powdered material and semi-liquid pastes, creams and gel. It is an object to provide a dispenser for such products which requires .either no change, or at most only a very slight change to be made in order to convert it from use with one of the products to use with another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind that has a'base capable of connection with either a carton or a can, circular or non-circular,

. which then can act as a material reservoir. In this latter connection, it is an. object of the invention to provide a dispenser that has aparticularly easily operated mounting means or supporting device that permits't-he dispenser base to be turned around or upside down for the application of a new carton or can. A further object is to provide such a mounting means that can permit the dispenser to be quickly removed from the supporting'wall,

so that the person servicing the dispenser may exercise his own option as to inverting it or removing it from the wall for servicing it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind with a metering valve arrangement which is capable of delivering metered amounts of the material to be dispensed, whether it be in the form of a cream or a gel, or in the form of a powder or finely divided material. In this connection, it is a further object of this invention to provide a means associatedwith the metering discharge device that agitates the material within the dispenser so that any coagulations or agglomerations of the material are broken up to enable all of it to be dscharged as desired.

Other objects include a quick, easy adjustment .of vthe amount dispensed; a throw-away 'refill'arrangement; .a positive cut-off dispensing valve with an arrangement to permit discharge only when the users hand is below. the discharge opening; a smooth, simple, easily serviced operating and dispensing mechanism; and a convenient .observation window to enable a user to tell when the dispenser needs recharging.

Further objects will appear from the description to follow. t t

.In the drawings:

Figure 1 is .a front elevation of the dispenser with a circular can constituting the material reservoir;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the dispenser of Fig ure 1; I l A Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the can reservoir, looking downwardly, taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 1; 1

. Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the upper part of the dispenser base elements taken along the line 4-4 ofFigul-e 1;'

2,978,146 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 Figure 5 is another horizontal section taken about half way down the conical part of the dispenser base on the line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a diametrical front-to-rear vertical section through the lower part of the dispenser taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1;'

Figure 7 is a vertical side-to-side diametrical section through a portion of the dispenser, taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a front-to-rear diametrical section of the lower part of the dispenser similar to Figure 6 but somewhat enlarged and showing the metering valve open and the discharge valve handle in open position;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the cut-01f valve of the dispenser taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view of a supporting bracket for the dispenser including the support tor the valve handle;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the metering valve assembly with the flipper or pusher blade removed;

, Figure 12 is a side elevation of the metering valve assembly;

Figure 13 is an end view of the metering valve assembly taken from the right of Figures 11 and 12;

Figure 14 is an isometric view of the pusher blade;

Figure 15-is a front view partly broken away showing the dispenser with a rectangular carton and adapter therefor;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 1616 of Figure 15; and

Figure 17 is a top elevation of the dispenser of Figure 15 with the carton reservoir removed.

.Referring to the drawings in detail, the dispenser includes a dispenser base assembly 20 and a material reservolr 21. The material reservoir 21, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is in the form of a cylindrical can, illustrated as being of-about five pounds, or one gallon, capacity. In Figures 15-17, the material reservoir is in the form of a rectangular carton 22 fitted in an adapter 23, the details of which will be described later.

in both cases, the dispenser base is provided with a supporting or mounting means, generally indicated at 24.

The dispenser base 20, in general, has an upper cylindrical portion that preferably has two inner sections 25 and 25a of different diameters, with a ledge 26 at their junctions. There is a lower cylindrical part 27, from the bottom of which extends a conical portion 28 that converges downwardly. The bottom.29 of the dispenser base is flat, horizontal, and provided with a some what sectorially-shaped discharge orifice 30. The center of the bottom 29 receives the lower end of an upstanding shaft 31.: This shaft is mounted in a horizontal brace or strap 32, illustrated particularly in Figures 3 and 7. The lateral parts of the brace are made channelshaped for added rigidity, and to aid in the free downward flow of material, and the outer ends of which are turned down and screwed or otherwise appropriately attached to the lower cylindrical part 27 of the dispenser base 20. The brace 32 at its mid portion receives a' U-shaped bracket 33 that can be attached to it, as illustrated in Figure 7, so as to provide spaced bearings for theshaft 31. For convenience, the lower horizontal leg of the bracket 33 is designated 33a.

The shaft 31 rests upon the inside of the bottom'wall 29 of the dispenser base and is held in position by bearings inthe spaced legs of the bracket 33. Its upper end' is somewhat reduced in diameter where it passes between the legs of the bracket. A beveled gear 36 is pinned to the the dispenser base. Outside of the dispenser, it receives a crank 39 and a handle 40 by means of which it can be separately or integrally secured to the valve plate 45, there is a strip 47 which has an arm 48'extending upwardly from it at an angle for scraping the inside of the conical section 28 of the dispenser base. This acts as an agitator for the material in the dispenser to insure that cakingor agglomeration is broken up.

The other end of the strip 47 is displaced upwardly from the valve 45 by a portion'50; at the top of which is formed an upwardly concave sectorial deflector 51'. This deflector or vane 51 is disposed over the opening 46, and has the added function ofpreventing continuous, unmetered discharge from' the dispenser.

The deflector or vane 51 has a notch 53 in its edge. This is adapted toreceive the notched portion of a flipper or pusher blade 54 having an angular edge 55 that, when the blade is'in place, can move across a part of the inner conical surface 28 adjacent the opening 46 of' the valve plate 45;

The metering valve assembly (either as a unit or as'the two separate parts) is disposed on the lower end of the shaft 31. To this end the assembly, as illustrated in Figure 11, has a flat-sided but otherwise round opening 56 through both the plate 45 and'the strip 47, that can receive the lower, flattened endof the shaft 31, so that rotation of the shaft will cause the metering 'valve assembly or its separate parts to'rotate'around the'inside of the lower part of the conical section" 28 of the dispenser base. A

coil spring 57 surrounds the shaft31 between the bracket arm 33a and'the strip 47 which is an integral part of the metering valve assembly. The spring 57 thereby holds the parts in the bottom of' the dispenser, but the flattened portion of the shaft 31 has sufficient height to permit some upward movement or freedom of the metering valve assembly on the lower part'of the shaft. When the strip 47 is not an integralpart of the valve plate 45, then strip 47 can be raised to a sutficient height to allow the flipper 54 to be either removed or inserted as the case may be, while the valve 45 remains in place and is not moved upward. If the strip 47 and the valve plate 45 are welded together and are an integral part, then both parts can be raised upward so that the flipper 54 can be either inserted or removed as the case may be.

The upper part of the shaft 31, including the bevel gearing, is shieldedby a shield 35 that may be open at its' bottom, but which has its two principal sidewalls bent over at the top to overlie the brace 32 where that part is enlarged to receive the shaft and bracket 33. An appropriate attaching element such as a snapring 34 can secure the shaft 31.

There is a shutoff valve below the outlet 30 in the bottom 29 of the dispenser base. To support it, there is a bracket 65 that has several parts and functions. This bracket has a forwardly-projecting, medial part 66 that is given an arcuate shape so that it can be attached at its upper end to the cylindrical portion 27 of'the dispenser base by means suchas rivets. Its lower end has side flanges 68; a depending handle 69 has side flanges 70 that fit just inside the flanges 68 of the bracket 65. Pivot pin 71 passes through the several flanges so that the handle 69 depends from the pivot pin between the flanges 68. A torsion coil spring 72 surrounds the pin 71 and acts between handle 69 and the bracket 65 so as to urge the lower part of the handle forwardly of the dispenser.

The cutoff valve is mounted on the handle. It includes 2,978,1 6 i l r pivot pin 78 passes through these last named flanges so that the cutoff plate 75: is thus pivotally; or rockably supported on the handle. A torsion spring 79 is wound around the pin 78, and acts between the valve plate 75 and the handle 69 so as to yieldably urge this cutoff valve plate against the bottom of the dispenser. An ear 80 is struck from one handle flange 70 toconfine the end of the spring 79.

The spring 72 normally urges the handle forwardly and this causes the plate 75 to underlie and thus close this discharge orifice 30. Preferably in this position the location of the pivot pin 78 and the shape of the parts is such that the plate 75 is parallel to and in surface contact with the bottom 29 of the dispenser, where the valve is closed as shown in Figure 6. The open position of the cutoff valve 75 is illustrated in Figure 8. The sizing of the parts is such that when a user presses the valve handle 68 backwardly with'the tips of' his fingers, the palm of his hand will be disposed under the discharge orifice 30.

Means are provided to-limit the backward or opening can'be turned by a'wrench, but'it is made difficult of access unless the dispenser base is removed from its" support.

The upper part of the bracket 65, illustrated especially in Figure .10, has outwardly and upwardly diverging wings that may be shaped as illustrated also in Figure 4. At the middle of the top edge of the bracket 65 a locking tab 86 is turned backwardly for a purpose to appear.

As previously observed, the dispenser base 21 is adapted to support a material reservoir.v In Figures 1 through 3 and 6, this reservoir is in the form of a cylindrical can 21. As illustrated, the bottom of the can is completely open. The upper end of the can has a beading or the like 88, characteristic of cans with removable, flanged covers. The cover-receiving lip 89 of the can fits down into the cylindrical portion 25a of the base, while the larger cylindrical part 25 of the base accommodates the beading 88. This bead 88 and the lip 89 give a snug and tight fit to keep the reservoir 21 from wabbling. (Of course, other styles of containers may be. used with or without change in the receiving socket elements 25-26 of the base 20.)

The reservoir 21 may consist of a can of the product to be dispensed. If it be a can of semi-liquid soap it will be supplied sealed at both ends. The user will remove the cover. Necessarily, this end must be held up so the material will not spill out. Therefore, the dispenser base 20 is provided with an inverting means so that anew can of material may be fitted into it, while the can is being held upright. If it is not desired to invert. the base 20 then this base 20 can be entirely removed from the bracket 65 and.a new can of mathe wall. Of course, not all of these features must always be'included with themounting means.

The rolledand tapered wings 85 on the bracket '65 slide into a complementary-shaped, tapered channel member 92, to enable the entire dispenser to be removed or secured to the wall easily, as aforesaid The channel shape of this member 92 appears particularly in Figures 3 and 4. This member has a backwardly projecting frusto-conical portion 93 that is received in a similarly shaped socket 94 in a dish-shaped part 95 of the mounting means 24 Y theinner' conical portionf93 tofseatgfirmly within its socket 94.

The upperpart of the dishshaped part 95 is provided with-a vertical channel or-groove 100 that extends down from the top to the recess 94. When the dispenser base,

of which the bracket 65is an integral part, is lowered into the tapered channel 92, the tab 86 on the bracket 65 is accommodated by passing through the channel 100. When the dispenser base 20 isfully seated Within the channel-shaped member 92, the tab 86 is within the recess 94, beyond the inner end of the channel 100. Then the entire bracket 65 with the channel member 92 can be rotated about the bolt 96. As soon as the rotation has begun, the tab 86 is beyond the lateral limits of channel 100, and is blocked from radial movement by the overhanging walls of the concave socket or recess portion 94. Consequently, once the rotation is started, the dispenser cannot be removed from its mounting bracket. There are appropriate detent dimples 102 between the flanged member 92 and the bracket 95 to yieldably retain the parts in fully upright, fully inverted, and half-inverted positions. The main function of the spring 98 is to keep the detent dimples 102 in the flanged member 92 and the bracket 95 in sufliciently close and strong contact so as to retain the parts in fully upright, fully inverted, and half-inverted positions.

As a matter of fact, the spring may exert from 30 to 50 pounds pressure, but there is suflicient give to the spring so that the parts are yieldably in contact with each' other.

It should also be noted that, if it is not desired to rotate the member 92 in the fixed bracket 95, and it is not the intention to fully invert or half invert the dispenser part 20, then the spring 98 and the bolt 96 can be entirely omitted and part 92 can be riveted, welded,

or otherwise made integral with the bracket 95. In this event, the dispenser base 20 may be simply removed from the part 92, and after the base 20 is removed, it is then inverted over the top of an upright can 21 or other material container or reservoir, and then the base 20 together with the reservoir is returned to the verti cal position and again placed in the bracket 24, and the dispenser is ready to operate. 7

Sometimes it is desirable to use a reservoir in the form of a rectangular (or other non-circular) carton. This can be done by the use of the adapter 23, illustrated in Figures 15-17. This adapter has a lower cylindrical part 110 that is shaped like the lower end of the can 21 so that it slips down into the upper cylindrical part of the dispenser base and is snugly and securely held there. The adapter 23 has a portion in the form of a carton, it being here shown as a square upstanding flange 111 secured to the top of the portion 110, as is particularlyfillustrated in Figure 16. The portion 111 preferan tin'can or a paperboard carton; The part 111 also" It has a disc or washer 97 secured to its,

has upwardly projecting lugs or lips 113 (Figures 16 and 17) to keep the sides of a paperboard carton from bulging inwardly. V

Assembly mounting and'use To prepare this dispenser for use, a can 21 or a carton 22, as the case may be, for the material to be dispensed,

for supporting the parts in the rotating movement, they being held frictionally together by the spring 98. It is desirous that the rotation requires some substantial degree of efiort'so that it will not. occur accidentally when the dispenser is in normal use. Consequently, the spring 98 preferably has a considerable degree of strength.

When the dispenser base 20 is inverted, it cannot :come out of the mounting bracket because the tab 86 is inside of the channel 100 and laterally displaced therefrom. The detent dimples 102 actto stabilize the base 20 in its upright or inverted position.

The open ended carton or container is then fitted into the large cylindrical end of the inverted dispenser base, until it has a snug secure fit'therein in the manner previously described. If the reservoir is the cylindrical can, it fits in as illustrated in Figure 6. If it be the carton, it is first located slightly askew with respect to the square flange 111 so that it comes within the upstanding bracing arms 112. It thus may be readily lifted toward the inverted receiving flange 111 until its open upper edge is at the then lowest part of the flange 111. The carton is'then aligned with the square flange 111 (which action brings it into close contact with the bracing arms 112), and further lifted until it snugly fits into the flange 111, as illustrated in Figure 16.

The operator, while continuing to hold the reservoir in place, places his other hand on the dispenser base and reverts them. the reservoir flows downwardly to fillthe dispenser base. The detent dimples 102 indicate when the parts are in properly upright position, the spring 98 contributing to this detent action. If the material being dispensed is a powdered or finely divided material such as powdered soap, the flipper blade 54 is not used. In order to dispense material, the user presses the fingers of his left hand backwardly against the cut-off valve handle 69 until it is moved from the position of Figure 6 to the position of Figure 8, against the limit screw 83. This opens the orifice 30, and disposes the palm of the users hand below that orifice. With his other hand, the user cranks the handle 41). This causes the shaft 31 to be rotated and to rotate the metering valve assembly with it. It brings the opening 46 in the metering valve assembly over the opening 30 once each rotation of the shaft 31.

In this rotating action, the extending arm 43 moves under the mass of material above it. If that mass is finely divided dry material, this produces enough disturbance in the material to break up any agglomeration therein. This action is very substantially aided by the concave plate 51 on the metering valve assembly which is moved through the particles of material as the shaft 31 is turned. The upwardly projecting Wings on the plate 51 have the effect of lifting and dropping material above them as they rotate. However, the material could agglomerate above the plate 51 by being wedged (in the downwardly converging conical section 28) into a bridge above the plate 51 or above the arm 48. Yet the two have such a different action that any bridging produced by one is broken up by the other. a

The concave shape of the plate 51 causes this element to force material to be dispensed under it toward the orifice 46, as it is rotated; and each time the orifice 46 comes over the discharge outlet 30 some material is dispensed into the palm of the hand of the user. The

.. fact that the plate 51 curves upwardly on both sides of'theorifice produces dispensing whether the crank is In this action, the material within turned in one direction or the other. When a moist or non-free-flowing or sticky powder is dispensed, then it is definitely necessary that the plate 51 curves upwardly on both sides min the form of a saddle, for when the plate 51 is rotated in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the material enters under one wing of the saddle, causing a downward pressure on the material. If this pressure is not relieved when the material reaches the center of the saddle, then it will not break loose and flow through the orifice 46 so that the dispenser becomes inoperable or non-functional. Since the downward pressure on the material is immediately relieved past the center of the saddle or plate 51, the plate inhibits. and does not cause caking of the material, and the;

material will not agglomerate or cake but will remain sufliciently free-flowing so that it may be dispensed through the orifice 46. This is a very important point in the design and operation of this dispenser. Of course, when dispensing a nonfree-flowing, or moist or sticky powdered material, the flipper 54 cannot be used because if it were the downward pressure'would not be relieved as soon as the vane or saddle 51 and orifice 46 passed out of register with the orifice 30, and it would cause caking of the material to such an extent that the material would not flow through the orifice 46 when it again came in register with the orifice 30. In the case of a dry, very free-flowing powdered material, like sand or granulated boraxor some such product, the downward pressure of the material when it enters one wing of the saddle is not sufficient to cause agglomeration or caking or the various particles; and consequently the plate 51 need not necessarily be in the shape of a saddle, and the flipper 54 might be used, and dispensing would be accomplished through the orifice 46. However, its dispensing action would be retarded to some extent and the dispensing, although'it might be adequate, would not be as functional and the metering would not be as accurate as it is with the plate 51 in the form of a saddle and with no flipper 54 being used. So in any event, regardless of whether or not the powdered product is very dry and free-flowing, or if it is moist and sticky, the best results are obtained by having the plate 51 in the form of a saddle and without the use of the flipper 54.

Because the plate 51 is in the form of a saddle and the downward pressure on the material is released immediately after the plate 51 moves, with respect to any portion of the material below it, to beyond its center point, an operator can crank the handle when the cut-ofl valve 75 is forward, entirely closing orifice 30 in dispenser base 20, and yet the moist or sticky material will not agglomerate and cake. Then as soon as the cut-off valve 75 is moved backward by the handle 69 and the orifice 30 is thereby opened, the material will be dispensed adequately without trouble. Now, under this condition, if the plate 51 were not in the form of a saddle, and the downward pressure on the material were not relieved when it tries to move past the dead center of the saddle member 51, then if the orifice 3!) be closed, the material agglomerates and cakes, and will not be dispensed when the orifice 30 is subsequently opened by the backward movement of the cut-off valve 75.

It is to be noted that the dispenser cannot be bled by stopping the handle with the orifice 46 registering over the orifice 30. The plate 51 has another function, in that situation, of covering the orifices to such an extent that fiow of material through the orifices will stop after dispensing a small amount of material.

If semi-liquid material is to be dispensed, it is optional whether or not the flipper 54 is inserted, and it does not have to be inserted if it is not desired. It is only'on a jellied product or a paste product that it is necessary to insert the flipper 54, for with this kind of a product, if the flipper 54 is not inserted, then the dispensing may not be in sufficient quantity to be adequate.

The flipper. 54 is used to force a jellied or paste product through the orifice 46. The-upward movement permitted by the flat on the shaft 31 is sufiicient to permit the user to lift the plate slightly and install the flipper by fitting.v its notch into the notch 53 of the plate 51, after which I release of the parts causes themto-be returned to their lower positions under the influence of the spring 57.

The flipper 54 exerts a positive downward thrust against. the jellied, gelatinous or paste material that is -rial to be forced out the orifice, in a limited-amount,

depending upon how creamy or how solid the material is.

The foregoing description has discussed using this dispenser for finely divided, or semi-liquid materials. Actually it may be used for dispensing thin liquids,.if the metering valve plate 45 is made to fit well against the bottom 29, the cut-off valve 75 be made to fit well against the bottom 29, when in closed position, and the shaft 38 be given a packing seal through the wall of the base. In such case, the reservoir 21 may have a liquid-tight fit into the base. It may be said that the tolerances permitted'increase. with the increase in thickness of the liquid being dispensed. But if the can 21 is not vented atthe top when inverted, then removal of material tends to form a vacuum and thin material will not overflow at 25,v even without a tight seal. In case of more viscous materials, the reservoir may be vented at the top to aid in downflow of the material.

The screw 83 can .beadjusted to determine the back-- ward limit of the cut-off valve 75. This means that the maximum size of the orifice 30 can be regulated. Consequently, this aflords a very ready adjustment for the amount of material to be dispensed with each revolution of thecrank 39.

Of course, as the user removes his fingers from the handle 69, the spring 72 automatically immediately causes the cut-01f valve 75 to close the orifice 30 to afford a positive cut-off, and to prevent waste.

The translucent window in the front of the dispenser provides aready indication of when a refill is required.

Certain modifications may be made in the structure without changing the principle. The plate 51, for example, has been shown as arcuate in section (Figure 13). This is not essential. It could have its two wings sloping. It is highly desirable to have it extend upwardly in each direction from the notch 53.

The shield 35, open only at the bottom, keeps the material being dispensed from collecting in the gears 36 and 37, and becoming packed therein. By having the bottom open, any material entering the shield, as when the base is inverted for reloading, falls out upon reverting of the dispenser. When the dispenser is in use, the material does not flow up into the shield.

This dispenser is less expensive to service than others presently available. It lends itself to larger size than present dispensers, which results in less frequent refilling.

It can be used with throw-away reservoirs, which reduces the cost of the permanent dispenser components, and also reduces the labor of refilling. A sufficient degree of agitation of the material in the dispenser is provided even though the agitating elements do not extend into the reservoir.

If it becomes necessary to give this dispenser a complete cleaning, this may readily be done.

plate 45 forremoving, any material 'packedthere. It.

The cut-01f. valve 75 can be drawn away from the bottom 29 'of the dispenser, against the force of the torsion spring desired, the screws holding the ends of the brace 32 and the handle crank 39 may berem'oved, to permit removal i of the entiremetering assembly. If the bearings'of the horizontal shaft 38 are too snug to permit that last, then upon removal of the shield 35 a nut on the inner end of the shaft 38 is accessible, to enable that shaft to be withdrawn from the assembly and the base, so that the rest of the assembly can be removed. It is not expected that complete disassembly will ordinarily "be required. r

What is claimed is:

1.,In a dispenser: a hollow'dispenser base having a bottom wall and a discharge opening therethrough, a vertical shaft within the base adjacent the opening, a metering deviceon theshaft comprising a plate having an opening rotatable into and out of registry with the discharge opening, a vane member on the shaft, and adapted to bemoved with the metering plate, the vane member being of a size tocover the opening, and being spaced above the orifice in the plate, the vane member extending upwardly and forwardly in the direction of" rotation of the shaft so as toscoop material underneath itself and into the orifice. I I

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the vane member extends upwardly and backwardly also so as to scoop material regardless of which way it is rotated;

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the vane member extends from the shaft with a sectorial shape, and there is an agitating. bar on the metering device extending outwardly and upwardly, and angularly displaced from the vane member so asnot to be covered thereby.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein there is a flipper supported on the vane member, the flipper extending below the vane member so as to drive material beneath the vane member, out the orifice when it registers with the opening.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the flipper has a rockable connection with the vane member, sothat it can extend downward and backward as the vane is rotated regardless of the direction of rotation.

6. The dispenser of claim 4, with means releasably connecting the flipper to the vane member to cause it to move with the vane member and to render it detachable and reconnectible. at will with respect to the vane member. I

7. In a dispenser: a base having a bottom wall and a discharge opening. therethrough; dispenser mounting means for attaching the base to a wall or like support including a bracket attached to the base and depending behind the same, the upper part thereof comprising part ofthe dispenser mounting means and elements cooperatingly secured thereto for attaching thebase as foresa'id: a cut-off valve at. the bottom of the base, a handle for operating the same, the handle being rockably attached to the depending part of the bracket for angular movevment about a horizontal axis,.means pivoting thevalve to the handle for rocking about a horizontal axis, yieldable means urging the valveupwardly against the bottom of the base, other yieldable means urging the handle I forwardly to bring the valve over. the opening, and

the handle having a. finger-receiving portion against which the finger of auser may be pressed to force the valve backward to expose the opening.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the bracket has downwardly converging side edges and a mounting means having similarly shaped side channels to receive the edges for convenient connection and disconnection, the mounting means having a swivel means for use in rotating the base toward inverted position; and interlocking means on the bracket and mounting means to prevent disconnection of the bracket when the base is inverted.

9. In a dispenser, a hollow base having a bottom wall and a discharge opening therethrough, a metering device in the base with means operating the same to discharge material through the opening and to check such telescopic fit with the upstanding walls to be securely held thereon, rotatable mounting means to support'the base in either upright orinverted position; the mounting means having separable elements to enable the base to be lifted upwardly to be removed from its support, and means to prevent separation of the separable elements except when the base is upright.

10. In a dispenser, a hollow base having a bottom Wall and a discharge opening therethrough, a metering device in the base with means operating the same to discharge material through the opening and to check such discharge, the base having flange-like upstanding walls having their inner surfaces defining a sleeve-like vertical recess, of a shape capable of receiving the walls of an inverted receptacle and holding such receptacle, a material containing means including an adapter separate from the base, having downwardly extending walls complementary in shape with the walls of the base to telescopically fit therein, and having additional walls upstanding around the top thereof, providing another sleeve-like vertical recess of a different shape to telescopically receive a carton, or the like, the additional Walls being shaped to fit closely'against the outer side of the carton wall, and means in the adapter to fit into the inside of the carton, alongside of the additional walls to prevent-collapse of the carton walls. 7

.11. ha dispenser for materials of the kinds described:

" a hollow dispenser base having a discharge outlet opening through the bottom thereof; a plate having an area great enough to cover the opening, the plate being in spaced relationship above the opening to permit passage of material below the plate at all times; means to move the plate across the lower part of the base above the opening so as to move into and out of position overlying the opening; the plate having its lower surface sloping upward and forward from the opening, so as to deflect material downward toward the opening as it is moved over the same, whereby movement of the plate toward overlying the opening deflects material toward the opening, but whereby the plate prevents descent of material from above the plate through the opening when the plate overlies it.

- 12. Ina dispenser for materials of the kinds described: a hollow dispenser base having a discharge outlet opening through the bottom thereof; a plate spaced'above the opening; means to move the plate across the lower part of the base above the opening so as to move into and out of position overlying the opening; the plate having its lower surface sloping upward and forward from the opening, so as to deflect material downward toward the opening as it is moved over the same, the plate having its lower surface sloping also upward and backward from the opening, so as to effect the deflection of material whenever it is moved either backward or forward across the opening.

13. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein there is a metering valve below the plate and movable over and off the opening; and means to cause the metering valve to uncover the opening when the plate overlies it, and. to cover the opening when the plate is not overlying the opening 14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein there is a depending blade projecting downwardly from the middle part of the plate, to push material below the plate, in the direction of movement of the plate.

abletheplate to be raised on the'shaft against the yield-v able means, to enable the blade to be attached. to or removed from. the plate at will.

17. In a dispenser for materials of the kinds described: a dispenser base and a materials reservoir for removable connection with the base; mounting means for attaching the base to a wall or like support, including an element attachable to the support, and an element attachable to the base, quickly separable means for holding one of said elements so attached, the separable means being separable by movement of the base in one direction that is in the plane of the wall; swivel means connecting the two elements for inverting the base about an axis transverse to the wall; and interlocking means between the quickly separable means and the said one of the elements with which it is connected, the interlocking means being locked by swivelling of the base away from the position in which the parts may be separated, and when locked, preventing the quickly separable means from separating.

18. A dispenser of the kind described, including a hollow base having a bottom wall with a discharge opening therethrough, a cut-off valve having an element pivotally supported adjacent the bottom wall about a pivot parallel to the wall, and the element being spring pressed to urge it upwardly against the bottom wall, and means including the pivot and a displaceable support for the pivot, for supporting the element for movement in scraping contact with the surface adjacent the discharge opening.

19. In a dispenser, a base having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, a vane, means supporting the vane in the base for movement over the base above and in spaced relation to the bottom thereof and across the opening; a device and means rockably attaching it to the vane and depending below the same toward the bottom of the base, the attaching means comprising elements on the vane and the device interengaging each other to provide rocking of the device about an axis transverse to the movement of the vane, the rocking movement permitting the device to assume an angle to the bottom whether the vane is moved in one direction or the reverse, the attaching means including means limiting the rocking movement of the device in each direction.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the vane comprises a plate disposed horizontally above the bottom of the dispenser, and the supporting means for it includes a vertical shaft about the axis of which it is movable; the device comprising a flipper, its attaching means being interengageable slots on the flipper and vane, engageable by radial movement of the flipper toward the axis, and the supporting means for the vane providing for lifting of the vane to enable the flipper to be engaged, the base having an inside wall that prevents disengaging radial movement of the flipper when the vane is not lifted.

21. In a dispenser: a dispenser base having a bottom wallfwith a discharge opening therein; a metering device movable for causing discharge of materialthrough the opening, means to move the metering device; a cut-off valve and an operating member therefor, the operating member being movably mounted on the base on a horizontal pivot to lie alongside the bottom wall and to depend generally vertically adjacent to the opening; the valve projecting from the operating member across the 12 bottom. wall, so that pivoting of the member .can move the valve over or away from the opening, the valve being rockably attached to the operating'member for movement toward and from. the bottom wall; and resilient means urging the valve against the bottom wall in scraping engagement therewith.

22. In a dispenser: a hollow base having a discharge opening therethrough; a vane within the base, means movably mounting the vane within the base in spaced relation above the bottom wall, the vane being smaller than the bottom wall, means to move the vane laterally across the opening to overlie the same or be withdrawn from overlying it; the vane having a size greater than that of the opening so that it can obstruct vertical flow of material'from above it, down through the opening; a cut-off valve movable across the opening outside the same, and means operable independently of the means to move the vane, to operate the cut-off valve.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the cut-off valve comprises a horizontally movable valve element underlying the base, an operating handle pivoted to the base about a horizontal axis, swivel means with a horizontal axis connecting the handle to the valve element at one end of the element so that the free end thereof can contact the base, resilient means urging the free end of the valve element against the base as the handle is rocked about its horizontal axis.

24. In a dispenser: a base having a discharge orifice therein and valve means regulating it; attachment means for attaching the base to a wall or the like, including a bracket for mounting on the wall or other support, the

bracket having a circular conically-walled portion with its axis horizontal, a complementary bracket having a complementary comically-walled portion inter-fitted with the first one, means pivoting them together, interfitted, and means for releasably mounting the base on the complementary bracket, the last namedmeans comprising a member having upwardly diverging side channels and a member having upwardly diverging edges to interfit with the channels, one of the members being on the base and the other on the complementary bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,680 Fribourg Sept. 17, 1901 1,455,970 Resek May 22, 1923 1,524,585 Shutterly Jan. 27, 1925 1,584,336 Walker May 11, 1926 1,639,415 Poplawski Aug. 16, 1927 1,700,483 Bonomo Jan. 29, 1929 1,703,032 Gorman Feb. 19, 1929 1,728,526 Brunhofi Sept. 17, 1929 1,730,784 Rogginger Oct. 8, 1929 2,105,281 Bowes Jan. 11, 1938 2,245,703 Mueller June 17, 1941 2,252,150 Whitfield" Aug. 12, 1941 2,585,198 Warren Feb. 12, 1952 2,644,615 Packwood July 7, 1953 2,751,117 Packwood June 19, 1956 2,751,128 Prince June 19, 1956 2,760,688 Packwood Aug. 28, 1956 

